What do you do when you HAVE to drive somewhere and you are sleepy or are not the correct condition to drive? Well, this is a question that is posed quite often, loved ones ask one another…”Do you have to leave so late?” Most of us reading a car blog like this can agree that we enjoy cars, we like to learn about them and we appreciate useful information regarding how to be better at driving them. If you like to drive and especially at night because traffic may be less intense and you can really let the throttle lose and just go – then you may have experienced a very common phenomenon.

Sleepiness while driving. Driving a car requires a combination of coordinated efforts. Lets see: Hands on the wheel control what direction you go in, your right foot in an automatic and left and right in a manual car have to operate simultaneously. So at this point we have the coordinated efforts of two actions, now we need to be aware of our speed as to not put ourselves or others in harms way. Then we have our surroundings, the unknown to try to factor in and these increment exponentially if it is nighttime and visibility is less.

Therefore imaging trying to coordinate all of this, seamlessly all the while your eyelids are heavy, you keep yawning incessantly and you do the tricks that you know in order to stay up. 1) open the windows, putting your windows down can help you wake up especially if it is a little cold out. The cold air that whips your face and arms can have a very sobering effect on your sleep. 2) Rock out, turn the radio up as high as you can. It would be better to get accused of noise pollution verses crashing because you are tired. Once you are rocking out to a good song, why not sing along and really get into it.

It is hard to be sleepy when you are listening to a song that you really enjoy. If your yawns are getting more progressive, then pull over. If you are driving on the highway, find the next rest stop, gas station or restaurant and go to the parking lot to rest. If you are resigned to driving and cannot do anything to avoid it and need to get from point A to point B now…then drink or eat something sugary or an energy drink. These tend to process fairly quickly into the body and when you get that ever familiar sugar high then you should be able to squeeze some more miles out of your journey until you can stop somewhere safe.

These suggestions are helpful if you are alone, but it is even better if there is someone in the car with you, because they may not be tired and can get you to your desired destination. You can discuss anything under the stars or merely go to sleep now that the driving is left to someone else. If you have ever taken a road trip with kids then you will know that there are boundless games that are easy and fun to play while driving down the road. Off the top of my head is “I spy”, you see something and then use a word to describe it, it is red, small and in the car. This gets the passenger thinking and you can get some good miles underway playing this innocent and super engaging game.

Stretching can be a great way to combat sleepiness. Stop, get out and stretch. It is important to remember that being tired behind the wheel is no different than being under the influence, you do not have 100% of your faculties and it is risky and dangerous. What we recommend is that you realize that no matter how much you may want to get to your destination, it makes more sense to get there later or earlier and not risk not only your life but everyone’s around you as well. Food for thought.

Regardless of what your day to day job may be, regardless of your age, most of us have fond memories of the summer vacations of our youth. How the days used to stretch on until forever, how it seemed that summer would never end. Now as adults we wish that our summer days would last just as long, but now we have the added advantage of being able to hop behind the wheel of our new vehicle… and drive out of Houston and hit the road.

Let’s talk road trips, yes, we said it. Road trip. When you pack your car with your essentials, perhaps some good friends, family, fill up your gas tank and drive. Head to some new or some old and beloved destination. Life on the open road can be something of a mystery, there is something mystical about it. You may expect to encounter a lot of things while on this adventure, but there are some precautions that you can take to ensure that your trip out of Houston is pleasant and that means getting your car summer ready!

Let’s talk car care. We have developed a quick to-do list that will enable you to cross your t’s and dot your i’s, before you head out on your next driving adventure..

1. Check your tires, you want to see if there is any visible wear and tear, if any tread remains and if the pressure is accurate. Also, if you see any bare spots, bubbles or cracks in the rubber, you need to get a new tire, perhaps a new set.
2. Check the gas cap, that it seals correctly, this can cause gas to evaporate which you will feel at the pump.
3. Check the hoses, these along with belts can crack and break overtime, if they look frayed, loose or like they may not work, then chances are don’t take the chance and get it fixed.
4. Check the battery, make sure that there is no corrosion and that the connection is tight and looks good.
5. Check that your fluids are topped off:
1. Power Steering
2. Oil
3. Transmission Fluid
4. Break Fluid
5. Wiper solution
6. Coolant

There are only advantages to getting your car looked over once before you embark on your summer road trip. Perhaps the most important one is peace of mind. Get out of Houston, get out of town, you have a new car… take it for a spin.

Once you get into the habit of regularly checking your car, then you will undoubtedly have a car that is ready for anything. There are several advantages of having your car in tip top shape and that is apparent the moment you wish to sell your vehicle. With car maintenance and in order to have your car ready at the go, you must keep up with its wear and tear. Get the oil changed when its due, change the filters and get tires when they are due.

Enjoy your summer road trips, but do so in a safe manner, thus not only protecting yourself and those in your car, but other drivers as well. At the Car Store Houston, our goal is to make sure that our customers are well informed, that you receive the pertinent information that you are looking for and that you will continue to work with us.